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Respecting Differences

Seventh graders build social awareness by appreciating differences — in culture, background, beliefs, and viewpoints — and treating everyone with respect. They sort respectful actions from disrespectful ones, then commit to one inclusive habit.

Grade 7Respecting Differences40 minutes1 class periodCASELExplicit teaching4 StandardsCASEL
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Appreciate diversity.
  • ✓Tell respectful from disrespectful.
  • ✓Take another perspective.
  • ✓Build an inclusive habit.
Essential Question

How do you show respect for people who are different from you?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Sort It · Interactive

Respectful, or Disrespectful?

Project this and sort each action into Respectful or Disrespectful of differences.

🤝 Sort each action — respectful or disrespectful of differences?Try it
🤝 Respectful
🚫 Disrespectful
Tap an action, then tap a box.
The Lesson · SEL Flow (Check-In · Learn · Practice · Apply · Reflect)

40 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Check-In — We Are Not All the Same

4 min

What is something that makes you unique?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Share something unique.
  • Invite a few.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Learn — Respecting Differences

10 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Respectful or Disrespectful?
  • Sort each action.
  • Note respect & inclusion.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sort.
  • Say.
  • Note it.
3

Practice — Practice

12 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a respectful action.
  • Take a different viewpoint.
  • Practice an inclusive phrase.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name.
  • Take.
  • Practice.
4

Apply — Apply

10 min

Students apply.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Choose one inclusive habit.
  • Plan when to use it.
  • Share it with a partner.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Choose.
  • Plan.
  • Share.
5

Reflect — Reflect

4 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Say why respecting differences matters.
  • Give one respectful action.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Give one.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the CASEL Framework for Social and Emotional Learning across its five core competencies.

CASEL
Social Awareness

Appreciate diversity and respect differences.

CASEL
Social Awareness

Take the perspective of people unlike you.

CASEL
Relationship Skills

Build relationships across differences.

CASEL
Responsible Decision-Making

Stand up against bias and exclusion.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Respect/disrespect cards.
  • Frame: “a respectful thing is ___.”
  • Pair share first.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Sort respectful vs not only.
  • Use 4 actions.
  • Use pictures.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Plan an inclusion project.
  • Interview about a tradition.
  • Challenge a stereotype.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🤝Action cards
  • 💻Respectful or Disrespectful?
  • 🌍Culture prompts
  • 📓Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

diversitythe range of differences among peoplerespecttreating people with care and dignityinclusionmaking sure everyone belongsperspectiveanother person’s point of viewcultureshared customs and traditionsbiasan unfair preference against a groupstereotypean oversimplified idea about a groupbelongingfeeling accepted as you are
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
Why does respecting differences matter?
Everyone deserves dignity, and it makes groups stronger.
QUESTION 2
Give one respectful action.
Include others, listen to a different view, or learn about a culture.
QUESTION 3
What is inclusion?
Making sure everyone belongs and is welcomed.

Reflect: respecting differences.

Have students choose one inclusive habit to practice this week. A printable inclusion worksheet is in the SEL library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Social Awareness: Respecting DifferencesFlip
Card 1
Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Social Awareness: Respecting DifferencesQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Social Awareness: Respecting DifferencesPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: belonging, bias, culture, diversity, inclusion, perspective, respect, stereotype
  1. another person’s point of view
  2. shared customs and traditions
  3. the range of differences among people
  4. an unfair preference against a group
  5. treating people with care and dignity
  6. feeling accepted as you are
  7. an oversimplified idea about a group
  8. making sure everyone belongs

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. Why does respecting differences matter?
  2. Give one respectful action.
  3. What is inclusion?
Answer key — Part A: 1) perspective · 2) culture · 3) diversity · 4) bias · 5) respect · 6) belonging · 7) stereotype · 8) inclusion
Part B: 1) Everyone deserves dignity, and it makes groups stronger. 2) Include others, listen to a different view, or learn about a culture. 3) Making sure everyone belongs and is welcomed.